Brussels, 29/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 29 July, Copa-Cogeca voiced its disappointment at the decision of the Council of Ministers of the EU to make cuts of €80 million in 2012 to the funds for European organisations of fruit and vegetable producers. The agricultural organisations gave their reaction to the Council's position on the draft budget of the EU for 2012 (EUROPE 10426).
Pekka Pesonen, the secretary general of Copa-Cogeca, points out that the European fruit and vegetable producers and their cooperatives are currently experiencing a serious crisis and “this decision will only make the situation worse for them”. Under the Council's position, the increase of 4.9% in expenditure proposed by the Commission for 2012 has been cut to 2.02%. In view of the fact that inflation is set to increase by 2% next year, “this decision of the Council means a spending freeze in real terms. For expenditure on agriculture and rural development, this will mean a drop of 0.6% in real terms, taking account of inflation”, the agricultural organisations explain.
The most notable cuts concern the European organisations of fruit and vegetable producers, with a reduction of €80 million compared to the Commission's proposal. Additionally, Copa-Cogeca adds, a drop of €26 million has been proposed for European aid for the distribution of fruit in schools, “which goes against the EU's objective of encouraging healthy eating in young people”, the organisations state. Copa-Cogeca is also concerned to note the following: a reduction of €2 million in quality improvement assistance, a cut of €20 million for national programmes to support the wine-producing sector and €20 million less in aid to producer groups in preliminary monitoring. (L.C./transl.fl)